‘Only Dr. Shrapnel’s letter,’ Rosamund affirmed.  ’The letter from Normandy was untouched by him.’

‘Untouched by anybody?’

‘Unopened, Nevil.  You look incredulous.’

‘Not if I have your word, ma’am.’

He glanced somewhat contemptuously at his uncle Everard’s anachronistic notions of what was fair in war.

To prove to him Mr. Romfrey’s affectionate interest in his fortunes, Rosamund mentioned the overtures which had been made to Colonel Halkett for a nuptial alliance between the two houses; and she said:  ’Your uncle Everard was completely won by your manly way of taking his opposition to you in Bevisham.  He pays for Captain Baskelett, but you and your fortunes are nearest his heart, Nevil.’

Beauchamp hung silent.  His first remark was, ’Yes, I want money.  I must have money.’  By degrees he seemed to warm to some sense of gratitude.  ’It was kind of the baron,’ he said.

’He has a great affection for you, Nevil, though you know he spares no one who chooses to be antagonistic.  All that is over.  But do you not second him, Nevil?  You admire her?  You are not adverse?’

Beauchamp signified the horrid intermixture of yes and no, frowned in pain of mind, and Walked up and down.  ’There’s no living woman I admire so much.’

‘She has refused the highest matches.’

‘I hold her in every way incomparable.’

’She tries to understand your political ideas, if she cannot quite sympathize with them, Nevil.  And consider how hard it is for a young English lady, bred in refinement, to understand such things.’

‘Yes,’ Beauchamp nodded; yes.  Well, more ‘s the pity for me!’

‘Ah!  Nevil, that fatal Renee!’

’Ma’am, I acquit you of any suspicion of your having read her letter in this pocket-book.  She wishes me to marry.  You would have seen it written here.  She wishes it.’

‘Fly, clipped wing!’ murmured Rosamund, and purposely sent a buzz into her ears to shut out his extravagant talk of Renee’s friendly wishes.

‘How is it you women will not believe in the sincerity of a woman!’ he exclaimed.

‘Nevil, I am not alluding to the damage done to your election.’

’To my candidature, ma’am.  You mean those rumours, those lies of the enemy.  Tell me how I could suppose you were alluding to them.  You bring them forward now to justify your charge of “fatal” against her.  She has one fault; she wants courage; she has none other, not one that is not excuseable.  We won’t speak of France.  What did her father say?’

’Colonel Halkett?  I do not know.  He and his daughter come here next week, and the colonel will expect to meet you here.  That does not look like so positive an objection to you?’

‘To me personally, no,’ said Beauchamp.  ’But Mr. Romfrey has not told me that I am to meet them.’